Prime Minister Julia Gillard made a surprise visit to Northcott Disability Services in North Parramatta yesterday.
The Sun had a sit down interview with the Prime Minister during the visit and asked Ms Gillard how she planned to tackle the high unemployment rate in parts of Parramatta.
Unemployment in suburbs such as Guildfor and Granville is 12 per cent while the rate is at three per cent in Parramatta itself and five per cent nationwide.
She said the government was still committed to the employment coordinator program the Rudd Government launched in 2010.
"The unemployment rate in Parramatta has improved but there is still work to do," Ms Gillard said.
When asked whether more would be done to provide affordable housing in Parramatta, Ms Gillard said the government was aware it was required and would continue to work to provide it but more cooperation from the state and local governments was required.
Ms Gillard will be in Parramatta again tomorrow afternoon to announce a grant under the government's Liveable Cities Program and will hold a community cabinet at Macarthur Girls High School in the evening.
She said she will be making an announcement to do with the area's unemployment tomorrow.
During the visit today Ms Gillard announced that the federal government would be funding an accommodation facility for adults with severe or profound disabilities to be constructed on Grandview Street, Parramatta.
Ms Gillard said the project would be one of more than 20 to be built nationwide under the $60 million Supported Accommodation Innovation Fund.
"People with disabilities want to choose where they live, just like you and I," Ms Gillard said.
"This fund will pay for the bricks and mortar to build the facility and fund supported care in order to provide suitable accommodation for people whatever their circumstances are.
"Many people with disabilities would like to live independently in their own homes and this project responds allows them to do that.
"As a government we are seeking to better meet the needs of people with disabilities."
The Grandview Project, which will cost more than $2 million will provide five disabled care units of one, two and three bedrooms and a three bedroom unit on the lower ground floor which could be used for rental accommodation.
The facility will have access to on-call personal care support for the tenants provided by Northcott Disability Services.
It will be built by Affordible Community Housing Limited and will employ young people from Marist Youth Care during the construction process.
ACHL chief executive Andrea Galloway said the facility will provide people with disablities with fully accessible, modern and affordable units.
She said it will help people with disabilities to live as valued members of the community.
Federal Parramatta MP Julie Owens accompanied the Prime Minister on her tour of the centre.
The not-for-profit organisation provides support to 10,000 people with a broad range of disabilities and their families and carers across NSW and the ACT.
Ms Gillard is expected to make an announcement about funding during the tour.
For more on the visit pick up Thursday's copy of the Sun.